NHTSA Complaint #10572881 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

PURCHASED 2002 FORD EXPLORER NEW IN APRIL 2002. HAD LITTLE PROBLEMS HERE AND THERE. THE REAL SMACK IN THE FACE CAME IN 2007 WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT BAD. WAS SHOCKED THAT A 5 YEAR OLD CAR WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. HAD TO PAY OVER $3,000 (THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS). THIS SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN A RECALL AND NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. PERFORMED RESEARCH ON THE TOPIC AND FOUND THAT MANY OWNERS OF 'TURN OF THE CENTURY' FORDS, ESPECIALLY EXPLORERS, WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. WHEN OUR CAR WAS READY FOR REPAIRS, WE HAD TO WAIT TWO WEEKS BECAUSE THERE WERE TEN OTHER EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AT THE DEALER WHO WERE AHEAD OF US. THERE WAS ONLY ONE TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN AT THE DEALER - WHICH IS WHY THERE WAS SUCH A LONG WAIT. CALLED AROUND TO DIFFERENT DEALERS IN THE AREA. ALL WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM - MANY EXPLORER OWNERS WITH BAD TRANSMISSIONS AND NOT ENOUGH KNOWLEDGEABLE TECHNICIANS ON STAFF TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. WOW!!!! WHAT A RACKET!!!! CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND DID NOT GET ANY RESOLUTION. ALTHOUGH THIS WAS SOME TIME AGO, SOME TYPE OF COMPENSATION IS WARRANTED. SINCE THE REPAIR WAS DONE THROUGH A CERTIFIED FORD DEALERSHIP, THERE IS A RECORD OF THIS REPAIR. SO IT SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE WHO HAD THIS REPAIR AND HOW TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM. AGAIN - THIS SHOULD HAVE DEFINITELY BEEN A NATIONAL RECALL WITH NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. *TR